Purple Star Designation
“We are a proud military community and are grateful for the opportunity to be a good partner to McConnell Air Force Base. Our staff work hard to respond to the various educational needs and challenges that military-connected children face in order to keep them on track to be successful students while they transition to a new school.” Heather Bohaty, Superintendent of Schools
With nearly 13% of our total enrollment being military-connected students, Derby Public Schools is proud to be named a Purple Star District with all 12 schools meeting the requirements and criteria outlined to achieve this distinction. Derby is one of four districts in the state recognized with this distinction.
The official recognition for the Purple Star School Designation program was celebrated at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) in 2023. New to Kansas during the 2022-2023 school year, KSDE adopted the state's Purple Star School Recognition Program, which is a partnership between KSDE and the Kansas Military Children Education Council (KMCEC). This program is designed to help schools respond to the educational challenges children face during their transition to a new school and keep them on track to be college, workforce and life-ready.
This designation is awarded to military-friendly school districts and schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military, including Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve. A Purple Star School actively supports students as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. A “Purple Star” signals which schools are the most committed and best equipped to meet the unique needs of children who are military-connected.